Challenges to the Empire

Question 1

When did the Continental Blockade take place from-until? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 1

The Continental Blockade took place from 1806 until 1810.

Question 2

When did the Peninsular War take place from-until? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 2

The Peninsular War took place from 1807-1814.

Question 3

When did the Austrian Campaign take place from-until? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 3

The Austrian Campaign took place from February 1809 until October 1809.

Question 4

When did the Russian Campaign take place from-until? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 4

The Russian Campaign took place from 1810 until 1812.

Question 5

When did the War of the Fourth Coalition take place from-until? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 5

The War of the Fourth Coalition took place from 1812-1814.

Question 6

What was the Continental Blockade? Why was it used? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 6

The Continental Blockade was an attempt to economically cripple Britain by extinguishing all trade with Continental Europe and France’s allies in the hope that this would force the British from the war and prevent their naval assaults on France.

Question 7

What were the impacts and outcomes from the Continental Blockade? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 7

Impacts - created domestic unpopularity as the French economy suffered (lack of tobacco, sugar, coffee and tea), created discontent among allies such as Tsar Alexander who withdrew from this, leading to the Russian Campaign.
Outcomes - crippled France’s economy, eventually ended in 1810.

Question 8

What was the Peninsula Campaign? Why was it launched? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 8

The Peninsula Campaign was an attempt to assert control over the Iberian Peninsula by exploiting political instabilities in this region. Also would prevent Portugal from being used as a route for British trade to enter continental Europe.

Question 9

What were the outcomes and impacts of the Peninsula War? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 9

Outcomes: saw British gradually gain control under Wellington and was a significant drain on French military due to costs of guerilla warfare. Largely fruitless campaign.
Impacts: saw Joseph and then Napoleon installed as King of Spain but gradually being worn down. Increased military expenditure and led to loss of Spain in 1813.

Question 10

What was the Austrian Campaign? Why was it launched? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 10

The Austrian Campaign was a conflict with Austria which began after the Austrians invaded French-controlled Bavaria, which was perceived to have been a weak point in the Empire.

Question 11

What were the outcomes and impacts of the Austrian Campaign? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 11

Outcomes: Napoleon was victorious over the Austrians, concluding the conflict through the Treaty of Schöbrunn which saw France gain 83,000 km^2 of land.
Impacts: Napoleon lost 34,000 men and had his tactical deficiencies exposed. It also identified weaknesses in using troops from the Empire’s satellite states.

Question 12

How much land did Napoleon gain following the Austrian Campaign? How many troops did he lose? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 12

Napoleon gained 83,000km^2 of land following the Austrian Campaign. However, he lost 34,000 troops.

Question 13

What was the Russian Campaign? Why was it undertaken? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 13

The Russian Campaign was an attack on Russia in an attempt to make it subordinate to France. This followed the withdrawal of Tsar Alexander from the Continental System due to the damage this had caused to Russian trade.

Question 14

What were the outcomes and impacts from the Russian Campaign? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 14

Outcomes: Napoleon was forced to withdraw from Moscow having advanced through Russia after failing to sustain his army, leading to his forces being pushed back across Russia to France.
Impacts: saw hunger, disease and illness strike his troops, essentially decimating the Grande Armée and causing the complete failure of his campaign.

Question 15

How many troops set out in Napoleon’s Russian Campaign as part of the Grande Armée? How many returned from the campaign? How many were fit for further military service? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 15

600,000 set out in Russian Campaign
10,000 returned to France
1,000 fit for further service.

Question 16

Why did the War of the Fourth Coalition take place? Which countries made up the Fourth Coalition? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 16

The War of the Fourth Coalition took place as an attempt to quell the threat France had posed to much of Europe by acting in such an imperial manner through its previous campaigns. The Fourth Coalition was comprised of Prussia, Russia, Britain, Austria and Sweden.

Question 17

When did the Battle of Nations take place? What was the outcome? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 17

The Battle of Nations took place in October 1813 at Leipzig, with the Fourth Coalition’s troops succeeding over the French and pushing them back across Germany.

Question 18

When was the Treaty of Fontainebleau signed? What did this determine for Napoleon? - Challenges to the Empire

Answer 18

The Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed in April 1814, seeing Napoleon agree to give up his throne and be exiled to the island of Elba as his own kingdom. This saw him remain as Emperor, however.